WELCOME TO FALL RIVER P.A.L. FLOOR HOCKEY!

(a) All players must read and understand the Code of Conduct for Players, and shall conduct themselves accordingly at all times.

(b) All coaches, assistant coaches, and parent(s) must sign their respective Code of Conduct forms. Any violation of the terms and conditions set forth in these Code of Conduct forms shall result in the appropriate disciplinary action as set forth in each document, which may include suspension or dismissal from the league.

(a) The use of profanity, obscenities, vulgarity and obscene gestures are expressly forbidden. A "Three Strikes" rule shall be in effect for any offender during the course of a season. We must remember if you are part of our league respect for the game, other players and visitors is paramount. Swearing and vulgar gestures are unacceptable, we have woman and young children in our rink everynight. PAL will strickly enforce these rules!!!!!!!!!

(b) For the first offense by a player, coach or assistant coach, will result in a game misconduct penalty, a (1) game suspension will be enforced. 

For the second offense during the season, a suspension shall be imposed, anywhere from (2) to (5) games depending on the infraction. This includes vulgar language between other players, officials and spectators.  

The third offense shall result in the dismissal of the offender from the league.

(c) Parents and spectators shall be disciplined under their respective Codes of Conduct, but a suspension shall be imposed for a second offense and they shall be permanently barred from all future games, exhibitions and events for a third offense.

  (a) Participants must be between the ages of six (6) and fourteen (14) years old. To be eligible, a player must turn six (6) years old, on or before September 1st, in the year the season begins

          (b) The coach of each individual team may select an assistant coach, and must officially inform the hockey program director of such selection. Once again all coach's must be approved by the Hockey Directors prior to reaching section (B)

(a) For the first major penalty in any one game, the offender, except the goalkeeper, shall be ruled off the floor for four (4) minutes, during which time no substitute shall be permitted.

(b) For the second major penalty in the same game to the same player or goalkeeper, that player shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty in addition to the major penalty. The penalized team shall immediately designate a substitute player, currently on the team bench, to serve the major penalty.

(c) When a player receives a major penalty and a minor penalty at the same time, the major penalty shall be served first, unless the minor penalty is coincident, then the coincident penalties shall be served first.

(a) A misconduct penalty involves the removal of a player from the game for a period of twelve (12) minutes, but another player is permitted to immediately replace the penalized player, so that the team does not play shorthanded.

(b) Any player who serves a misconduct penalty at the beginning of a game shall be considered a "late" player for the purpose of the Equal Time rule.

(c) A game misconduct penalty involves the suspension of a player, coach or assistant coach for the balance of the game, but another player is allowed to immediately replace the removed player.

Game Misconduct (a) A game misconduct penalty involves the suspension of a player, coach or assistant coach for the balance of the game, and the offender shall be removed from the game immediately. The penalized team shall immediately designate a substitute player, currently on the team bench, to replace the removed player and serve the four (4) minute time portion of the match penalty. The substitute player shall also serve any additional minor or major penalty assessed to the offending player. example ( two players involed in a fight or other serious incident, this will be detremined by the Ref)

(b) Any player, coach or assistant coach incurring a match penalty may not remain on the team bench, nor attempt to direct the play of their team in any manner.

(a) If a penalty shot has been awarded, the referee shall inform the scorekeeper as to the number of the player designated by him, or selected by the team, entitled to take the shot, and shall place the ball on the center face-off spot. The player taking the shot will, on the instruction of the referee, play the ball from there and shall attempt to score on the goalkeeper. Once the player taking the shot has touched the ball, it must be kept in motion towards the opponent's goal line, and once it is shot the play shall be considered complete. No goal can be scored on a rebound of any kind, and any time the ball crosses the goal line the shot shall be considered complete.

(b) If a penalty shot is awarded because a player was fouled from behind, illegally interrupted or interfered with, or otherwise prevented from following through on a clear breakaway for a shot on goal, then the fouled player shall be designated to take the penalty shot by the referee. If a penalty shot is awarded for any other reason, including falling on the ball in the crease, picking up the ball in the crease, or a defender blocking a shot while standing in the crease, then the coach of the offending team shall select any player on the floor at the time of the infraction to take the penalty shot. Such selection must be reported by the coach to the referee and cannot be changed.

(c) Only the goalkeeper who was on the floor when the penalty shot was awarded may defend against the penalty shot. If the goalkeeper was injured on the play, then a substitute goalkeeper shall be allowed.

(d) The goalkeeper must remain in the goal crease until the player taking the penalty shot has carried the ball across the blue line. In the event of a violation of this rule, or any foul committed by the goalkeeper during the penalty shot attempt, the referee shall allow the shot to be taken, and if the shot fails he shall permit the penalty shot to be taken again.

(e) The goalkeeper may attempt to stop the shot in any manner except by throwing the stick or any other object, in which case a minor penalty shall be assessed to the goalkeeper, whether or not a goal is scored on the penalty shot. In the event the shot fails, the referee shall permit the penalty shot to be taken again.

(f) While the penalty shot is being taken, players of both teams shall withdraw to the sides of the rink beyond the red center line.

(g) If, while the penalty shot is being taken, any player, coach or assistant coach of the opposing team shall have, by some action, interfered with or distracted the player taking the shot, and because of such action the shot fails, a second attempt shall be permitted and the referee shall impose a misconduct penalty on the player, coach or assistant coach so interfering or distracting.

(a) A goalkeeper shall not be sent to the penalty box for an offense which incurs a minor or major penalty, but instead any of these penalties shall be served by any player of the same team on the floor at the time of the infraction, as designated by the coach.

(b) A goalkeeper must serve any misconduct, game misconduct or match penalties, and a substitute goal- keeper shall be permitted.

(c) A minor penalty shall be imposed on any goalkeeper who leaves the immediate vicinity of the goal crease during an altercation.

(d) A minor penalty shall be imposed on any goalkeeper who participates in the play in any manner beyond the red center line.

(a) Every regulation game shall be divided into 12 shifts with a four (4) on four (4) format.

(b) The minimum number of lines each player must play shall be determined by dividing the number of available players on a team at the start of the game, excluding the goalkeeper, into the number of available slots. Each position on each line, or shift, excluding the goalkeeper, shall be considered as one slot. The remainder is the number of players who may play an additional line.

(a) Upon request to the referee, a two-minute time-out may be given to the coach of an injured player in order to determine the extent of the injury and if that player is capable of returning to action.

(b) If the injured player cannot continue for the remainder of that line, or shift, a substitute player shall be permitted, but the line shall be charged to the injured player for the purpose of equal time and shall not be charged to the substitute player.

(c) If the injured player is unable to return to play at any time during the remainder of the game, the coach must notify the referee and the scorekeeper, and that player shall be considered off the equal time rotation for the remainder of the game.

(a) If a coach of a team has reason to believe an opponent has violated the Equal Time rule, the coach may file a protest with the league.

(b) The coach of the team filing the protest must notify the referee or a league official that the game is under protest, and must submit an official protest sheet to the hockey program director or designee.

(c) The protest sheet must be filled out completely and must list the jersey number of the player or players who played either too many or too few lines, or shifts, and must state the same.

(d) All parts of the protest must be correct to be valid. Every player listed on the protest sheet must have played either too many or too few lines, in violation of the Equal Time rule, for the protest to be upheld.

(a) Any player, coach or assistant coach who challenges, disputes or excessively argues the ruling or call of any referee or game official (official scorer, timekeeper) shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsports- manlike conduct. If the player, coach or assistant coach persists in such challenge or dispute, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed.

(b) Any player, coach or assistant coach who uses obscene, profane or abusive language, or gestures, towards any referee or game official shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. If the player, coach or assistant coach persists with such language or gestures, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed.

(c) Any player, coach or assistant coach who engages in taunting any referee or game official, or uses the name of any referee or game official coupled with any vociferous remarks or engages in name-calling, shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. If the player, coach or assistant coach persists in such taunting, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed.

(a) Any player, coach or assistant coach who intentionally touches, bumps, grabs or holds any referee or game official, including their clothing or any equipment, or throws a stick, piece of equipment or other object towards, or in the direction of, any referee or game official, without inflicting any injury or harm, shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty and shall be automatically suspended for a minimum of three (3) games.

(b) Any player, coach or assistant coach who intentionally touches, bumps, grabs, holds, kicks, strikes or hits any referee or game official, or throws any stick, piece of equipment or other object which strikes or hits any referee or game official, inflicting any injury or harm, shall be assessed a match penalty and be automatically dismissed from the league.

(c) Any player, coach or assistant coach who threatens any physical harm or injury to any referee, game official or league official at any time, or implies any such threat, shall be assessed a match penalty.